Vistara, the new full-service airline promoted by Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, may look at procuring or leasing wide-body aircraft if the Centre does away with the 5/20 rule, Phee Teik Yeoh, Chief Executive Officer, said.
The 5/20 stipulates that an airline should have flown for five years in domestic skies and have a fleet of 20 aircraft before it can start international operations. “Hopeful” of the rule going, Phee Teik Yeoh said: “What you are seeing (the launch of the airline) is just the tip of the iceberg. We want to bring back the joy of flying.”
He was speaking at a press conference called to unveil the airline’s products and services.
The airline, which takes to the skies on January 9, with two narrow-body Airbus A320 aircraft, hopes to have a fleet of five A-320s by March. Acquiring wide-body aircraft will allow Vistara to start long-haul international flights. Its current fleet of narrow-body aircraft does not have the range to fly non-stop to Europe, the US, or Australia. While a narrow body aircraft can fly non-stop for up to five-and-half hours, a wide-body aircraft can fly for 14-15 hours. These long-range aircraft will have 200-500 seats, while the narrow body planes will have under 200 seats.
The first airline to offer premium economy on domestic routes, Vistara said it will allow the passenger to experience the journey with a little extra — be it space or comfort. The airline will also offer business and economy classes. At the moment Jet Airways and Air India, the two full-service airlines, offer only business and economy class on domestic routes.
A search on Vistara’s website shows a Mumbai-Delhi round-trip fare of ₹17,430 in Economy Super Saver and ₹28,396 in Premium Economy Flexi.
Declining to get into specifics of the investments made in the airline, Phee Teik Yeoh merely said significant investments have been made in IT and corporate office space.
Giam Ming Toh, Chief Commercial Officer, said Vistara is looking to join one of the three global airline clubs. Singapore Airlines, which holds a stake in Vistara, is one of the leading members of the Star Alliance. Air India is a member of the Star Alliance.